The French President Emmanuel Macron says according to the data acquired by French authorities, the American drone was shot down on international waters and not in Iranian airspace as Iran claims.

On Thursday, June 27, the French president, who has traveled to Japan for the G20 summit, told the reporters that Iran’s action is a step toward conflict.

On Tuesday, the Russian head of national security had claimed that according to his country’s military, the American drone was shot down in Iranian airspace.

Iran and the United States offer two opposite narratives regarding the IRGC’s attack on the drone.

This is the first time that France has taken a position on the subject. Macron says that in a phone interview he had with the president of Iran, he warned Rouhani against leaving the nuclear deal (JCPOA).

According to Macron: “I talked with President Rouhani to tell him that leaving the JCPOA would be a mistake and any signal in that direction is also a mistake.”

The French president also said that his other priority aside from protecting the nuclear deal is to prevent military conflict. He said in upcoming days he will do all he can to prevent a military conflict between Iran and the United States so “no one does something irreparable”.

Macron emphasized that all sides must de-escalate the tensions and said he will be talking with President Trump about the tensions in the Persian Gulf.

He added: “I want to convince Trump that it is in his interest to open the doors to negotiation and give negotiations a chance by suspending some of the sanctions.”